Foot construction for vibrating chair



Filed Feb. 12, 1958 FOOT CONSTRUCTION FOR VIBRATING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ILT/G. l,

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FOOT CONSTRUCTION FOR VIBRATING CHAIR Filed Feb. l2. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zNvENToR. EPA/Qeo E Mama/sn www Unitd 2,890,544 Patented June 16, 1959 ice This invention relates to a foot construction for a chair, which chair has a vibrating device or assembly incorporated therein, and particularly to a foot construction, which, when incorporated in such a chair having a vibrating action, enables a person to sit or recline on the chair and receive the vibrations, while the vibrations of the chair itself, are not transmitted to the oor upon which the chair rests.

In the prior art, various articles of furniture, such as chairs, have been developed in which the massage or vibrating action is accomplished by various devices, such as oir-center motors, which cause the chair to vibrate,

thus transmitting a massage or vibrating action -to theV occupant of the chair. In such commercial massage chairs on the market, when the device is in operation, the vibrations are transmitted not only to the chair and the occupant, but also to the oor and at times the entire room would vibrate and shake. Indeed, in some instances, the chair itself would tend to travel, i.e., to move along the Hoor. Also, a great deal of noise was produced by the vibrations passing through the oor and being amplified, the oor acting as a sounding board.

In my co-pending application for a vibrating assembly, Ser. No. 640,962, led February 18, 1957, I have disclosed a vibrating assembly which, among other advantages, minimizes the violent action which was transmitted to the oor by various of the vibrating chairs of the prior art. I have discovered that even in the chair construction and vibrating assembly disclosed in my above-mentioned co-pending application, the foot construction disclosed herein serves to further minimize the transmission of vibrations and noise to the oor. In the case of commercial massage or vibrating chairs on the market which do not incorporate the invention disclosed in my abovementioned co-pending patent application, I have discovered that the foot construction disclosed herein when incorporated in such chairs, as part of each of the four foot members, eliminates to a great extent the transmission of vibrations from the chair to the door and results in much quieter operation.

The general object of the invention is to provide a foot construction for a vibrating chair and the like which will insulate the vibrations of the vibrating'chair from the floor upon which the legs of the vibrating chair rest.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a leg construction which will operate eiectively to absorb the vibrational movements of the chair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple construction for a :toot member for a vibrating chair which may be readily assembled and installed with the aid of simple tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot construction which is incorporated in the legs of a vibrating chair in such a manner as to enable the chair to operate quietly with a minimum amount of noise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot construction for a vibrating chair which is simple in construction and capable of prolonged use with a minimum requirement of repair or maintenance, the various parts thereof being readily replaceable.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated by way of example, but not by way of limitation, specific embodiments of my invention. In such drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chair, partly broken away and partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the spring foot construction and a portion of `the outer frame member of the chair;

Fig. 3 is a plan view from above of the foot construction along the lines 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the foot construction, showing the universal joint action of the swivel glide;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional lview showing my foot construction as attached to a portion of the outer frame member of a vibrating chair, utilizing a speed nut rather than a conventional nut;

Fig. 6 is a plan view from below of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 along the lines 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view from above of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view from above of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 alongthe lines 8 8 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which similar reference characters identify similar parts in the several views, as shown in Fig. l, the numeral 10 designates generally a reclining chair which has a seat portion 11, a side arm rest 12, a back rest 13 and a foot rest 1a,-

all suitably upholstered. The chair construction illustrated is of a conventional type wherein the foot rest 14 inclines forwardly and upwardly and the back rest 13 is actuated rearwardly so that the chair may be used as a club chair, as shown in Fig. 1, or as a reclining chair, not illustrated. The chair 10 is provided with legs,`generally designated as 15, which legs are provided at their lower extremities with swivel glides, designated generally as 16. The chair 10 has a bottom frame structure formed of wood consisting of outer frame members 17 to which the legs 15 are secured.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8, I have illustrated one embodiment of my'foot construction incorporated in a conventional reclining chair 10. In this embodiment of my invention, I provide for each of the four corners of the chair, a leg member 15, illustrated as having a frustoconical shape, although other shapes may, of course, be utilized. The leg member 15 may be made of wood or other suitable materials. The leg member 15 is provided with an upper cylindrical recess 18 and a lower cylindrical recess 19. Centrally disposed in the leg member 15 is a hole 20 leading from the upper recess 18 to the lower recess 19.

The elements of my -foot construction consist of a coil spring 21 of a size to it within the lower-cylindrical recess 19 without contacting the walls of such recess, a threaded bolt 22, a first washer 23, a first nut 24, a second washer 25, a second nut 26 and a swivel glide 16. In the assembly of my foot construction, the bolt 22 is secured to the spring 21 by sliding the shank of the bolt 22 through the central opening of the spring 21 and through the central opening of 4the tirst washer 23, which washer 23 is positioned between the upper coils of the coil spring 21 and is of sui'licient diameter to rest between said coils, so that the 'head 27 of the bolt 22 contacts the lower -face of- 'the Washer 23, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The bolt 22 is then slid through the hole 20 of t-he leg member 15 and the iirst nut 24 is screwed onto the threaded portion ofthe bolt 20 within the upper cylindrical recess 18 as shown in Fig. 2, thus retaining the coil spring 21 within the lower cylindrical recess 19.

After the coi-1 spring 21 has been positioned within the lower cylindrical recess 19 of the leg member 15. as described above, the swivel glide 16 is snapped onto the coil spring 21. The swivel glide 16 has an inwardly tapered sleeve or ferrule 28Y which is fitted over the spring 21, as shown in Fig. 2'. The assembly is then secured to the outer frame member 17 of the chair 10 by sliding the upper extremity of the bolt 22 through a hole 29 drilled in the outer frame member 17, disposing the second washer 25 over the threaded end of the bolt 22 and screwing `the second nut 26 onto vthe threaded bolt 22, as shown in Fig. 2. I secure my inventive foot construction adjacent to each of the four corners of the chair 10, as described above.

The swivel glide, designated generally as` 16, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, may be made of plastic or other materials and consists of a base or glide portion 30 and an inwardly tapered sleeve or ferrule 28 fixed together in movable universal joint relationship by the retaining member or rivet 31. The members 28 (ferrule) and 3Q (base) of the swivel glide 16 may be formed of plastic while the retaining member or rivet 31 is made of metal. The inner diameter of the ferrule 28 of the swivel glide 16, is such as to t snugly over the spring member 21.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. and 7, the leg member Ihas a cylindrical recess 19 and aV hole 20, the hole leading from the cylindrical recess- 19 to the top of the leg member 15. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 in that there is no upper cylindrical recess. The cylindrical recess19 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 7, receives the coil spring 21, the upper portion of the foot member 15 being solid with the exception of the lhole 20 through which the bolt 22 passes. This assembly for thisembodiment of the invention is similar to that of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 in that the bolt 22 is slid within the central opening of the spring 21 and is retained by head 27 of the bolt 22 contacting the washer 23, which washer 23 is positioned Within the coils of the springV 21, as shown in Fig. 5. The threaded shank of bolt 23 passes through the hole 20 and is held in place by means of the conventional speed nut 32. The bolt passes through the hole 29 in the outer frame member 17 and is secured thereto by means of the nut 26, utilizing the second washer 25. The swivel glide 16 is utilized in the same manner as in the case of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, i.e., the ferrule 28 of the swivel glide 16 being snapped over the spring 21.

The swivel glide, generally designated as 16, as noted above, consists of a base member or glide portion 39 having a peripheral ange adapted to rest upon the floor and a ferrule 2S. The base member 30 is hemispherically or dome-shaped and has a centrally disposed conical opening 33 therein. The ferrule 28 has a centrally disposed hole 34. The rivet or retaining member 31 passes through the conical centrally disposed opening 33 of the base 30 of the swivel glide 16 and through the cylindrical centrally disposed hole 34 in the ferrule 2S of the swivel glide 16. The rivet 31 is curled over the inner bottom portion of the ferrule 28 to retain the base 30 and the ferrule 28 of the swivel glide together in movable relationship. The ferrule 28 has its central bottom portion shaped `to form a hemispherically-shaped recess complementary to and adapted -to lit over the domeshaped face of the base member 30 and thus the ferrule 28 may move (or swivel) relative to the base 3) of the swivel glide 16 within the confines of the conical ccntrally disposed opening 33 in the base 3) of the swivel glide 16 in partial universal joint action as shown in Fig. 4. The materials of which the base 30 and the ferrule 28 of the swivel glide 16 may be made consists of practically all types of `thermoplastic materials or other materials which will withstand shock and wear. I have found that nylon is particularly suitable for such use.

In Fig. l, I have illustrated generally a chair 10, which has as a part thereof a vibrating motor 35. Vibrating motors used to produce a vibrating effect conventionally utilize an olf-center weight or eccentric attached to a motor shaft. When the shaft of such a motor rotates, a vibrating effect is produced. While I have illustrated a motor utilizing the vibratingassembly disclosed in my co-pending application mentioned above, my invention is applicable to vibrating chairs or the like which incorporate any type of means to impart vibrations to the chair proper.

In the constructions of the prior art, there have been attempts to overcome the transmission of the vibrations of the chair to the floor. One of the means disclosed in my co-pending application is to utilize cushion members underneath the legs of the chair. However, the constructions of the prior art have not succeeded in eliectively insulating the vibrating action of the chair from the door. I have disclosed herein and have discovered that by utilizing my foot construction as part of the four legs of a vibrating chair the vibrating chair is quiet in operation and the vibrations of the chair are not transmitted to the oor. In my invention, the base 30 of the swivel glide 16 rests directly on the oor 36 and supports the chair. The ferrulc 23 of the swivel glide 16, being snapped over the coil spring 21, provides a spring connection which suspends the chair on each of the four support points by spring action. The vibrations and noise are absorbed by the springs. The result is a oating action which eliminates excessive noise and results in the elimination of vibrations being transmitted tothe oor.

I have also discovered that by utilizing my foot constructionr as part of the four legs of a vibrating chair there is a pronounced increase in the vibrating or massage action of the chair which is imparted to the occupant thereof. In the constructions of the prior art energy was transmitted through the legs of the chair to the oor upon which the vibrating chair rested. Thus energy (manifested by the massage or vibrating action) was lost by the chair itself to the floor. A vibrating chair utilizing my foot construction invention conserves the energy which would otherwise be lost and results in enhanced vibrating or massage action to the occupant of the chair as compared with the constructions of the prior art.

While I have described the use of wooden leg members, it is obvious that the leg members may be made of other materials, such as plastic, metal, etc. While I have described the use of thermoplastic resins to form the base and ferrule of the swivel glide, it is obvious that the swivel glide may be formed of other suitable materials. The length and strength of the coil spring is so selected that together with the springs of the other three legs they will support the chair.

While I have described particular embodiments of my inventive structure, it is obvious that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A foot construction for resiliently supportingl a vibrating chair and the like comprising a leg member, a centrally disposed recess in the lower portion of said leg member, a centrally disposed recess in the upper portion of said leg member, a hole centrally disposed within said leg member forming an opening leading from said centrally disposed recess in the lower portion of said leg member to said centrally disposed recess in the upper portion of said leg member, a coil spring positioned Within said lower recess in said leg member, a washer positioned adjacent the upper portion of said coil spring and bearing against said coil spring, a threaded lbolt passing through the upper portion of said coil spring and through the centrally disposed hole within said leg member, the head of said threaded bolt bearing against said washer, a nut aeeasaa.-

screwed on said threaded bolt and bearing against the lower face of said centrally disposed recess in the upper portion of said leg member, said bolt and said nut serving to retain said coil spring within said centrally disposed cylindrical recess in the lower portion of said leg member, a swivel glide consisting of a hemispherically shaped base member having a peripheral llange, said flange having a flat bottom face being adapted to rest upon a floor, a ferrule having a hemispherically shaped recess complementary to and adapted to lit over the upper portion of said hemispherically shaped base member, a conical aperture centrally disposed within said hemispherically shaped base member, an aperture centrally disposed within said ferrule, and a rivet passing through said central apertures of the base and the ferrule so that said ferrule may have limited universal joint movement relative to said ibase member, as limited by the movement of said rivet within said conical aperture disposed within said hemispherically shaped base member, the lower portion of said coil spring being removably secured within said ferrule.

2. A foot construction for resiliently supporting a vi brating chair and the like comprising a leg member, a centrally disposed recess in the lower portion of said leg member, a hole centrally disposed within said leg member leading from said centrally disposed recess in the lower portion of said leg member to the top of said leg member, a coil spring positioned within said lower recess in said leg member, a washer positioned adjacent the upper portion of said coil spring and bearing against said coil spring, a threaded bolt passing through the upper portion of said coil spring and through the hole centrally disposed Within said leg member, the head of said threaded bolt bearing against said washer, a speed nut positioned on said threaded bolt and bearing against the upper face of said leg member, said speed nut and said bolt serving to retain said coil spring within said centrally disposed recess in the lower portion of said leg member, a swivel glide consisting of a hemispherical shaped base member having a peripheral flange, said ange having a at bottom face adapted to rest upon a oor, a errule having a hemispherically-shaped recess complementary to and adapted to fit over the upper portion of said hemispherically shaped base member, a conical aperture centrally disposed witbin said hemispherically shaped base member,

an aperture centrally disposed within said ferrule and a rivet passing through said central apertures of the base and the ferrule so that said ferrule may have limited universal joint movement relative to said base member, as limited by the movement of said rivet within said conical aperture disposed within said hemispherically shaped base member, said errule being fitted over said coil spring serving to removably secure said coil spring Within said ferrule.

3. A foot construction for resiliently supporting a vi bra-ting chair and the like comprising a leg member, a centrally disposed recess in said leg member, a coil spring positioned within said centrally disposed recess, means securing the upper portion of said coil spring to said leg member serving to retain said coil spring within said centrally disposed recess in said leg member, a swivel glide consisting of a hemispherically-shaped base member having a peripheral ange, said flange having a flat bottom face adapted to rest upon a floor, a ferrule having a hemispherically-shaped recess complementary to and adapted to t over the upper portion of said hemispherically-shaped base member, a conical aperture centrally disposed within said hemispherically shaped base member, an aperture centrally disposed within said errule and a rivet passing through said central apertures of the base and the ferrule so that said ferrule may have limited universal joint movement relative to said base member, as limited by the movement of said rivet within said conical aperture disposed within said hemispherically-shaped base member, said ferrule being slidably tted over said coil spring, serving to removably secure the lower portion of said coil spring within said ferrule.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 938,219 Crumb Oct, 26, 1909 1,836,353 Withrow Dec. 15, 1931 2,056,957 Colbridge Oct. 13, 1936 2,145,037 Bennett Ian. 24, 1939 2,469,425 Andersen May l0, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,473 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1894 

